Seattle police block a street with their bikes in the Capitol Hill Organised Protest zone (Chop) Aron Ranen/AP)Seattle police showed up in force at the city’s “occupied” protest zone, tore down demonstrators’ tents and used bicycles to herd the protesters after the mayor ordered the area cleared following two fatal shootings in less than two weeks. Television images showed no signs of clashes between the police, many dressed in riot gear, and dozens of protesters at the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (Chop) zone that was set up near the city centre following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Police swarmed the zone known as Chop at about 5am and a loud bang was heard at about 6.15am followed by a cloud of smoke. As of 7:45 AM, officers have made 23 arrests in the #CHOP zone for failure to disperse, obstruction, resisting arrest, and assault. There had been mounting calls by critics, including President Donald Trump, to remove protesters following the fatal shootings.

Source: Irish Independent July 01, 2020 21:33 UTC